Pump



May 1, 1945. 'F.E. KN APP 2,374,867

PUMP

Filed Nov. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNj/ENTR ATTORNEY" Patented 1,1945

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP I Franklin Earl Knapp, Dayto'mOhio Application November 3,1943, Serial No. 508,783 (on. 103-178) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to pumps and one ob- Ject or the invention is to provide a pump oi the radial type which will be simple in construction and highly efilcient in operation when used either with gases or with liquids.

A iurther object of the invention is to provide a pump of large capacity which may be operated at high speeds and will operate efiiciently at 'all speeds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of such a construction that it can be manuiactured at low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the radial type having improved means for actuating the several pumping units in properly timed relation one to the other.

A further object or the invention is to provide such a pump in which the valve mechanisms will be easily accessible for inspection and repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a pump in which all. operating parts of the pumping unit may be removed through the outer end of the cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a pump in which the pumping unit may be removed from. the pump casing disassembled and reassembled without'the use of tools other than a wrench. r

A iurther object of the invention is to provide such a pump in which the cylinder of eachpumping unit is charged by projecting the piston into the inlet chamber of the pump casing.

ther objects of the invention may appear as the pump is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. i is a top pian view of a pump embodying myinvention;

I Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the pump with the epdwall oi the casing removed and partly in section; Fig. 8 is a section taken through the pump on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and partly in elevation; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken centrally through one or the pumping unite; Fig. 5

is a plan view of the valve supporting spider in embodimenthajs been chosenior the purposes or illustration only and that the pump as a whole as well as the several parts thereof may take various forms.

In the embodiment here illustrated the pump comprises a casing l0 having vwithin the same a cylindrical chamber II. the front side oi which is closed by an end member i2 having a tapered wall which projects outwardly and is provided with "an opening i3 which constitutes an inlet to the pump chamber. Ii desiredga screen l4 may be interposed between the inlet and the pump chamber. Mounted on the casing it and spaced apart circumferentially thereof are a plurality of pumping units iii, in the present instance iour, each oi. which comprises a cylinder is having means whereby it may be detachably mounted on the casing and having within the l9 and 2'8 in which is rotatably mounted a driving shaft 22, the inner end of which extends into the chamber ii and has rigidlysecured thereto a crank arm 22 which is provided with a wrist pin 23 on which the circular actuating device is mounted. It is desirable that the outer part of the actuating device, which contacts with the pistons, should be rotatable about its individual axis and the actuating device is shown as comprising a ball bearing, the inner race 26 of which is mounted on the wrist pin 23 and the outer race 25 of which is supported on the inner race by the balls 26 and has a smooth outer sur face. 1 1

Each pumping unit is separately attached to the casing in such a manner that it can be readily attached to or removed from the same and, as V here shown, the cylinder i6 has an inner portion 21 or rediiced diameter and provided with screw threads to engage a screw threaded opening in the wall of the chamber ii, the reduced portion or the cylinder forming on the body thereof a shoulder 28 which is drawn tightly into engazement with the outer surface of the casing wall. The cylinder is preferably of uniform diameter throughout its length. The piston ii is oi elongate form so that it will have ample bearing and sealing surface inthe cylinder when it has been 2 projected to its innermost position and it is here shown as tubular in form. The inner end of the piston, that is the end which enters the chamber H, is provided with an end wall or head 29 having therein lateral passages 30 in open communication with the chamber II and leading to an inlet port 3| which in turn leads to the interior of the tubular piston which is always in open communication with the interior of the cylinder IS. The inlet port has at its inner end a valve seat 32 with which cooperates a valve member 33 arranged within the tubular portion of the piston. The valve'member' is provided with a stem 34 which is slidably mounted in a guideway in a spider or apertured disk 35 supported within the piston. In the construction shown the outer end portion of the piston is of slightly largerinterior diameter than the inner portion, thus providing a shoulder 36 on which the apertured disk is supported and on which it is retained in a manner which will be hereinafter described. A spring 31 confined between the valve member 33 and the disk 35 retains the valve member yieldably upon its seat but is of such tension as to permit the valve to be opened by the pressure of the liquid as the piston moves inwardly and thus admit fluid to the cylinder. The inner end portion of the head 29 is tapered to provide a contact surface of relatively small area and'preferably the contact portion of the head is in the form of a removable member 38 of such a character that it will have relativel small frictional contact with the surface of the actuating device. When, as in the present instance, the contact portion of the actuating device is of steel the contact member 38 of the piston is preferably of brass.

An outlet valve unit is mounted at the outer end of the cylinder and removably attached thereto and in its preferred form this unit comprises a disk-like stationary valve member 39 having a series of apertures 40 extending through the same and provided with a central guideway in which is mounted the stem 4| of the movable valve member 42, which cooperates with a valve seat 63 on the outer side of the disk and surrounding the apertures 40. On theinner side of the disk 39 the valve stem Al is provided with a shoulder, here shown as a washer 54 mounted on the stem and retained thereon by a pin 45. A spring 56 confined between the shoulder 46 and the disk 39 yieldably retains the valve member 62 On its seat. In the arrangement shown the valve member 39 has a reduced portion 41 which extends a short distance into the outer end of the cylinder and forms on the inner portion of the disk a shoulder 48 which engages the end of the cylinder wall, 'a' gasket 49 being interposed between the shoulder and the cylinder wall. The

apertured disk 39 may be rigidly but removably secured to the cylinder It in any suitable manner, as by a cap 50 screw threaded onto the cylinder and provided with a shoulder to enage the outer face of the disk 39 and clamp the latter tightly against the end of the cylinder. On the outer side of the disk 39 the cap is provided with a chamber 52 in which the valve memher 2 moves'and into which the fluid from the cylinder is discharged through the apertures or ports 40. .The cap is provided with an outlet which is here shown as a threaded aperture 53 formed in the end wall of the cap and adapted toreceive the threaded end of a suitable conduit.

Con'flned between the stationary member or der 36 and to move 35, which supports the inlet valve, is a spring 54 which serves to retain the disk 35 on the shoulthe piston inwardly and project the inner end thereof into the chamber of the casing and'retain the same in contact at the periphery of the actuating device as the latter revolves about the axis of the drive shaft. Upon the inward movement of the piston by the spring 54 the outlet valve closes and the movement of the piston tends to creat a vacuum within the cylinder, and the valve 33 opens under themessure of the-fluid in the chamber, thus permitting the fluid to flow into the cylinder and fill both the cylinder and the tubular portion of the piston. As the piston is moved outwardly by the actuating device the inlet valve closes and the pressure exerted on the'fluid within the cylinder by the piston opens the outlet valve and discharges the fluid through the chamber 52 and outlet 53. Due to its relatively great length the piston has a large sealing contact with the cylinder which will prevent the passage-of gaseous fluids, as well as liquids, between the cylinder and the piston, thus enabling the pump to compress gases to a high pressure. The pump can be used for pumping either gases or liquids without change except that with heavy liquids it will usually be preferable to use a heavier spring 54 than is used in pumping-gases. Due to its tubular character the piston does not reduce the in ternal capacity of the cylinder but actually increases that .capacity when the piston is in its innermost position. .The construction is such that the actuating device can be rotated at high .speed and the several pistons reciprocated at a tion that each pumping unit is complete in it- 1 self and may be attached to or detached from the pump casing at will and thatthe valves and other operating parts are readily accessible for inspection or repair. By removing the cap 50 all the parts within the piston may be withdrawn through the outer end of the cylinder and may then be quickly and easily reassembled in the cylinder. character that it can be produced at a very low cost. Practically all the parts can be formed on a screw machine and the inlet passages 30 consist of two intersecting bores each of which extends entirely through the piston head.

I While I have shown and describedone embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desireto be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pumping unit for a pump mechanism com prising a cylinder having means whereby the inner end thereof may be mounted on and secured to a pump casing and having uniform internal diameter throughout its length, a tubular piston mounted in said cylinder and having a uniform external diameter throughout its length, the piston having an inlet port adjacent one end thereof, a valve in said piston to control theflow of fluid through said inlet .port, a disk extending across the outer end of said cylinder andhaving a guideway and' a plurality of openings therethrough, a valve member supported in said guideway and extending across the outer ends The pumping unit is also of such a latter'to said cylinder and having an outlet, and

a spring confined between said disk and said -piston to project the inner end of said piston beyond the inner end of said cylinder.

2. A pumping unit for a pump mechanism comprising a cylinder having its inner end portion provided with an external screw thread to'enable it to be removably mounted in the wall of a pump casing, a tubular piston mounted in said cylinder and having an end wall provided with lateral openings and an inlet port connecting said openings with the interior of said piston, said port having a valve seat, said piston also having an internal shoulder spaced from said end wall, an apertured disk supported on said shoulder and having a central guideway, a valve-member having a stem slidably mounted in said guideway, a

spring confined between said disk and said valve member to yieldingly retain the latter on said valve seat, a second apertured disk at the outer end of said cylinder having a central guideway, a valve member on the outer side of said second disk having a stem slidably mounted in the guideway thereof, said stem having a shoulder on the inner-side'of said second disk, a spring confined between said shoulder and said second disk to yieldably retain the last mentioned valve member in engagement with said second disk, a cap screw threaded on said cylinder, havingan internal shoulder engaging said second disk and also having a chamber onthe outer side of said second disk and provided with an outlet, and a spring confined between said disks to retain the first mentioned disk on the shoulder in said piston 4. A pumping unit for a pump mechanism of the type including a casing having an inlet, and

' an actuating device within said casing, said pumping unit comprising a cylinder having means whereby it may be removably mounted on said casing in communication with the interior thereof, a tubular piston mounted in the inner portion of said cylinder and removable through 1 the Outer end thereof, said piston having at one and to project the end portion of said piston be yond the inner end of said cylinder.

1 3. A pumping unit for a pump mechanism of v the type including a casing having an inlet, and

an actuating device within said casing, said pumping unit comprising a cylinder having means whereby it may be removably mounted on said casing in communication with the interior thereof, a tubular piston mounted in the inner portion of said cylinder and removable through the outer end thereof, said piston having at one end apart adaptedto extend into said casing and to have sliding contact with the actuating device within the latter and-having adjacent said.

end an inlet port toconnect the interior of said piston with the interior of said casing, an inlet end'a part adapted to extend into said casing and to have sliding contact with the actuating device 7 within the latter and having adjacent said end an inlet port to connect the interior of said piston with the interior of said casing, an inlet valve removably. supported in said piston and comprising a stationary member and a movable member to control the flow of fluid through said inletport, an outlet valve unit comprising a disk seated in the outer end of said cylinder and pro-. vided with a central guideway and a plurality of apertures arranged about said guideway, a movable guide member arranged on the outer side of said disk to control the flow of fluid through said apertures and having a stem slidably mounted in said guideway, said stem having a shoulder on the inner-side of said disk, and a spring confined between said shoulder and said disk to move said movable member into aperture closing relation to said disk, a cap removably supported on said cylinder and engaging said disk to secure the latter on said cylinder and hav-- ing a chamber in which said movable outlet member operates and an outlet port for said chamber, a spring confined between said disk and the stationary member of said inlet valve unit tohold the latter against movement and to project the inner end 01' said piston beyond the inner end 01' said cylinder, whereby said pumping ;'ber and an actuating device in said chamber,

said unit comprising a cylinder connected with said casing and the inner end of which is I adapted to communicate with saidchamber, a

valve unit removably supported in said piston and comprising a stationary member and a movable member to control the flow of fluid through said inlet port, an outlet valve unit supported by the outer end of said cylinder and comprising a statubular piston in said cylinder and removable throughthe outer end thereof, said piston having a closed inner end projecting into said chamber and having sliding contact with said actuating device, said piston also having an inlet port to connect the same with said chamber, a pressure controlled valve to control the flow of fluid through said inlet port and removable through that end of said piston opposite said port, pres-.

. sure controlled means for controlling the flow of tionary member removably supported on said cylinder and a movable member carried by said stationary member, a closure removably secured to said cylinder and engaging said stationary member of said outlet valve unit to secure the latter. to said cylinder, said closure having a chamber in which the movable member of said outlet valve unit operates and having an outlet port, and a spring confined between said stationmy members of the two valve units to hold the stationary member of said inlet valve unit against movement and to project the inlet end of said piston beyond the inner end of said cylinder,- whereby said pumping unit may be removediromsaid casing and then completely disassembled by removing the closure.

fluid from said cylinder including a movable outlet valve member, and a supporting and guiding member for, said valve member removably, -mounted on the outer end of said cylinder and having a fluid passage, and a closure-removably mounted on saidcylinde'r, engagingsaid support.-

ing and guiding member to secure the latter to said cylinder and having an outlet port communicating with the passage in said supporting and guiding member, andsprlng means urging the inner end or said piston into said chamber 1 and removable through the outer end oi said I chamber, whereby said pumping unit may be entirely disassembled for removingsaid closure. 

